Paramus Resident Keeps Pace With the Country's Fastest

Paramus resident Shariff Webb has competed against the top runners in the country in the US Nationals.

But the University of Kentucky athlete didn't want to just compete.

“That race,” Webb said of the finals, “I wish there were so many things that went differently.”

In the 800m race, the participants run in lanes until they get 100 meters out, before “breaking in”.

Webb, 22, took an early lead in the heat. 

Around 600 meters in, Khadevis Robinson, 35, a four-time United States champion, passed Webb.

Webb needed to finish in the top four to advance, but started to fall behind more in the last 100 meters.

“I glanced over and everyone [in the heat] was there,” said Webb, a two-time NCAA Division I All-American in the 800-meter.

He finished sixth with a time of 1:49.

“How the race played out,” said the former Don Bosco Prep standout, “I would have wanted to not be in the lead…to be able to sit and kick instead of having everyone sit and kick on me.”

Though he wasn't happy about the result, Webb said just making it to the USA championships boosted his confidence.

“This is where I’m supposed to be," Webb said. "I’m here for a reason."

The 2007 Don Bosco graduate holds the Ramsey parochial school records in the 600m, outdoor 400m, and 800m (1:51.07).

Before transferring to Kentucky, Webb was a three-time NJCAA All-American at South Plains Junior College in Texas.

Webb has one more year of school left, during which he hopes to win Nationals. He plans to graduate next May with a degree in journalism and will continue to train after college.

He's already made his mark on the school. Webb is second in the Kentucky record books with a time of 1:47.64 in the 800m at the 2010 SEC Outdoor Championships, a top-10 mark nationally.